Scenic World to Katoomba Falls Lookout

2 hrs

1.2 km Return

146 m

Hard track

This walk starts from Scenic World and winds part way down the Furber Steps and along a small, well travelled side track to the Katoomba Falls lookout. Providing great views, and plenty of visitor information at Scenic World, this is a great walk for those who like waterfalls, ferns and grottos, and don’t mind steps.

Scenic World

Scenic World is one of the most renowned tourist attractions of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. Located on the cliffs of the Jamison Valley , visitors can enjoy a ride on the Scenic Railway (the world’s steepest incline railway) or the Scenic Cableway, into the Jamison Valley, and explore the Scenic Walkway from the base. Alternatively, the Scenic Skyway offers a bird’s eye view over the valley, with a glass floor to enhance the experience. Scenic World also features a revolving restaurant, a cafe and a kiosk, in addition to the documentary theatre and souvenir shop. Rides can be purchased, starting from for adults and for children, and combination or family passes are available. More info.

(0km) Scenic World → End of wooden footbridge

120 m

3 mins

5m

-20m

Very easy

From the Scenic World main entrance, this walk follows the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ signs down the concrete steps and around to the back of the building, where it comes to a wooden footbridge that curves around behind the main car park. At the end of the footbridge, this walk comes to an intersection with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track down the gentle hill, winding down some wooden steps as the track bends around to the right. It then arrives at the signposted intersection of the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ and the track to the base of the Scenic Railway.

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steep wooden steps, following the signs to the bottom of the Scenic Railway. The walk comes to the intersection of Vanimans Lookout at the bottom of the steps.

Vaniman’s Lookout

Vaniman’s Lookout is a fenced, long and narrow lookout on the cliff edge, opposite Reids Plateau. The view looks directly over the Three Sisters across the Kedumba Valley, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout was considered one of the finest views on the Three Sisters in the 1900’s. The lookout was named after Chester Melvin Vaniman in 1905, a well-know adventurer and artist from the USA, who visited the Blue Mountains in 1903. More info.

Hard track

Turn right: From Vanimans Lookout, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the bottom of the wooden steps. The track winds around the side of the hill and down the steep metal stairs. At the bottom, the walk comes to the intersection of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony track (unsignposted).

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the long set of wooden steps winding down the side of the hill. After this, the walk flattens out for a short distance then continues up a short set wooden steps to the intersection of the Round Walk and the Furber Steps track.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Base of Scenic Railway’ signpost down the wooden steps to the bottom, where it comes to the Rainforest Lookout.

Rainforest Lookout

Unlike many lookouts in the area, Rainforest Lookout does not offer sweeping valley views. Instead, this lookout offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with the canopy of the rainforest. Spend some time in the cool shade listening to the birds and Witches Leap creek passing by. A sign at the lookout explains that there once were wood-fired barbeques here for picnics, but removed due to the toll on the local environment

Moderate track

Turn right: From the Rainforest Lookout, the track follows the bush track heading past the base of the wooden steps and then through the forest for a short while, until it reaches the signposted intersection of the Underfalls Walk.

Easy track

Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Underfalls Walk’ sign down a short set of steps and across a small waterfall using the wooden bridge (This creek flows from Witches Leap all the way down to Veras Grotto). Once past the falls, the track continues through the rainforest, winding along the well-defined path until arriving at Katoomba Falls Lookout, right at the base of the falls.

Katoomba Falls

The Katoomba Falls are among the most famous waterfalls in the the Blue Mountains region. The Kedumba River falls about 150 meters in 2 main stages. The Undercliff Track, from the Furber Steps, can be used to access the first landing of the waterfall. The Katoomba Falls can be viewed from most lookouts in the the area, including from the bottom of the falls at Cooks Landing on Federal Pass, or from the track running next to the Kedumba River at the top of the falls. These falls are also a highlight for the trip across the Scenic Skyway.

Maps for the Scenic World to Katoomba Falls Lookout walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Cross sectional view of the Scenic World to Katoomba Falls Lookout bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Scenic World to Katoomba Falls Lookout

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

1.2 km

Time

2 hrs

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Very steep (4/6)

Quality of track

Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)

Signs

Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

270m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 120m is flat with no steps. Whilst another 110m is very steep and the remaining 95m has short steep hills.

Quality of track

310m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 230m follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 40m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and the remaining 15m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 540m of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 50m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 400m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 200m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 590m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 530m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 65m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Scenic World to Katoomba Falls Lookout walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bmnp-swtkfl
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.